I am a member of southwold sc which has a fleet of 6 picos, 3 laser 2000s and a 420. My family of 4 have been sailing for two years. We already own a leader, which I crew in for my dad. I feel that I have grown out of the picos though and would like something faster and more thrilling. Some of the members of my club own lasers and the club are looking to get a couple but being young and only 40 ish kg, they are two much for me, we (my family) are looking into getting a topper for whoever wants to sail single handed at any time. Our leader though, is only big enough for me, my dad and occasionally my sister. My mum does not fit in. We were thinking about putting a topper on top of the car and the leader being towed, would that be possible. Anyway I would like to hear what you think.

Its certainly more than possible to have one boat on the roof and one on a trailer. Seems like a reasonable option in the circumstances. Back in the day expeditions to events on the continent might see two boats on a trailer and another on the roof of what would now be considered very small cars.

But you need to be aware that many cars these days have what seem to me ridiculously low weight limits for the roof rack. If you exceed those limits you may get insurance company problems. If this did turn out to be a problem another possibility might be to put both boats on the trailer and all the spars on the roof rack.

If you want to travel and get into the serious racing side the Topper is a good choice because there is so much coaching and competition available. I like it better than the Laser 4.7, which to my mind is a tiny rig on a great big boat. If that isn't your enthusiasm, and there's no reason why it should be then the choice is rather wider.

There's a lot to be said for just getting a ride in as many different types of boats as you can and seeing what appeals to you. After all you want a boat you like, not the boat the most convincing dodgy used care salesman on the forum likes!

My daughters (14 and 16) have done a lot of sailing in our club Toppers, and earlier this year we bought a Laser. They really like the Laser, and despite being relatively lightweight, mostly sail with the full rig (we also have got a 4.7 rig) unless the wind is really strong.

Ok, my friend has a topper, I'll have to try it out. As for the 4.7, It is apparently a bit faster. Would it mean I could progress onto the bigger sail as I get older?[/IMG]

Well the 4.7 is a bigger heavier longer boat. Without getting into the science being longer means it goes marginally faster, but because its bigger and heavier it can't react so quickly so doesn't necessarily feel faster, and you're not really going to learn anything sailing one you wouldn't learn sailing the other. techniques are much the same.

Yeah, you could get the bigger sail as you get older, but so what? Its easy enough to sell a Topper and buy a Laser. When you get older, who knows - you might want to sail two handers, you might want to play rock and roll and not go sailing, so best to get the thing that seems right for you now and let a year or two's time worry about itself.

It is only natural to focus on the boats and progressing; we all do it.

BUT Southwold is a fantastic venue with constantly varying conditions both up river, in the harbour mouth and out at sea. Don't get too hung up on what you are sailing, whatever is under you you will learn as much from time spent on those waters as any boat will teach you. Two of the instructors there I know of are very experienced sailors so you should be able to get excellent home guidance.

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